Biosurveillance of Invasive Southern Corn Rust: Insights Into Recent Migration Patterns and Virulence Variation.

ABSTRACT: Emerging pathogen races spreading via long-distance migration increasingly threaten global agricultural ecosystems. Understanding how pathogens migrate and adapt to new hosts via virulence evolution is crucial for developing strategies to mitigate future crop damage. Here we performed biosurveillance of Puccinia polysora, a global fungal pathogen causing southern corn rust (SCR), across China, Thailand and the Philippines. By analysing 193 field transcriptomic data, we detected both epidemic and endemic lineages co-circulating in each country and elucidated the crucial role of host selection in driving the diversification of endemic lineages. Gene flow assessments and trajectory tracking indicated that the SCR infection source in northern China is likely of domestic origin and pathogen mig

SUBMITTER: Li Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12483992 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature